Shifting Sands

Game Master Stiehle

Not so fast!

Yes, Elliander’s actions depend on whether the assassin gets off the roof or is tripped. The duskblade can attack right away or run across the roof (30ft) and use Dimension Hop (40ft) to end on the ground beside the enemy instead.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 5 = 23
Fort Save: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 5 = 19

Terribly weakened by the poison but still resolute, Amenhep manages to resist it's effects. Truly a miracle from Ra.

Trip: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Rather than trying to attack the assassin directly, he tries to sweep his spear under the assassin's feet and trip the man.

Will wait to see if that trip does it.

Francis continues rushing, trying to get to the group.

Sunday, the 20th day of Desnus, 4714 AR
Weather clear and hot and with little to no wind.
One hour after midday.

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Amenhep focuses his spirit and manages to overcome the poison that nearly killed him - though he is deathly pale and shaking badly as he gamely tries to stay on his feet. Instead of stabbing at the fleeing assassin with the business end of the spear, he thrusts it between his enemy's legs and trips him neatly! The assassin sprawls out on the rooftop, then scrambles awkwardly to his feet and staggers toward the wall, leaping up onto the short wall that rings it...

Blur Miss Chance (01-20): 1d100 ⇒ 54 = Success!

Welcome back Amenhep, nice rolls! You brought yourself away from the brink of death with that save (you only needed the one as I'd already rolled one success on the second dose of poison that had about done you in.) The assassin is still on the rooftop (just barely), so I'll retcon a bit and say you can all take your actions for this round based on that fact. Disregard the non-lethal damage for now, if he manages to jump to freedom when this round is over, we'll pick up at that point with him taking the fall and then I'll make his movement.

Combat Map

Map/Guide of Tephu

Player Handout - Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh

Player Handout - Scrolls of Inquiry Excerpt

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If the enemy got tripped and then got up to move away, would Elliander have gotten an AoO on him as he was leaving his threat area?

Elliander crosses the roof, chasing after the assassin. When he catches up on the other side, he swings his sword again.

Is Francis within range for casting Chain of Perdition? If so he casts that to attack the enemy. It has a reach of 10' and can do an entangle attack at +11.

Hopping off the low roof wall, Devin charges after the fleeing assassin...
Full round action - Charge!

To Hit, AoO: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 24
+5 bab +2 heroism +1 enhancement +2inspire courage +2 charge

Miss chance (01-20): 1d100 ⇒ 18

damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 9
+2 heroism +1 enhancement+2inspire courage

Nevitash strides up and tries to subdue the last assassin.

Move up and strike to subdue.

+1 Greataxe-Subdual: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 4 = 8

+1 Greataxe Damage: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Or not.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Damage, Power Attack: 1d8 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 6 = 14

Amenhep strikes at the assassin, seeking justice for Soumral and vengeance for her death.

Sunday, the 20th day of Desnus, 4714 AR
Weather clear and hot and with little to no wind.
One hour after midday.

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Amenhep is in immediate pursuit, gasping for breath as he continues to fight through the poison that has weakened him so badly - nearly to the point of death. He thrusts the spear as his enemy gains the low wall, but blinks as the strike seems to pass through the black-clad assassin, missing him. Nevitash moves up beside the paladin and swings his axe, but the blow is wild and misses badly. Francis, still far away from the melee, is closing in, but still far to affect the outcome with the spells at his disposal. Elliander gives chase as well, and though his blow connects and sends a magical jolt into the assassin (29 damage total), it is not a mortal wound. Even as the fellow moves to jump, Devin catches up and stabs - but the half-orc's eyes are also fooled by the blurring magic concealing his foe, and the strike misses as well.

Amenhep's Concealment Miss Chance (01-20): 1d100 ⇒ 14 = Miss!

The assassin leaps from the wall, desperately trying to escape as he fends off his attackers (withdrawl full round action) long enough to make his escape...

OK, so nobody except for Devin can take an AoO, as the withdrawl action makes the first square exempt from being threatened, but technically Devin threatens two squares that the assassin must move through. It's unlikely Devin will kill him outright, but with a critical hit or something it's certainly possible. Presuming the assassin lives through the experience, let me know how you all intend to follow and I'm going to try and post a few rounds worth of actions. Jumping down? Give me an Acrobatics check vs DC 15 to avoid 2d6 damage from the fall. Success means you take 1d6 subdual damage and you won't fall prone. After that, the assassin is fleeing at 30' speed. If you have a ranged weapon to take him down, you can try that. If not, you can attempt a footrace to catch up with him if you have the same speed. Once I know what you're all doing (including splitting up if some give chase and others don't) I'll handle that in my next post.

Combat Map

Map/Guide of Tephu

Player Handout - Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh

Player Handout - Scrolls of Inquiry Excerpt

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To Hit, AoO: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 20
+5 bab +2 heroism +1 enhancement +2inspire courage

Miss chance (01-20): 1d100 ⇒ 11

damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 7
+2 heroism +1 enhancement+2inspire courage

@GM West, 1) did the assassin make said acrobatics check for the fall? ie., is he prone down there or not? 2) Can/does jumping down after him count as a charge?

Devin's swing misses and the assassin leaps down, stumbling a bit (6 points of non-lethal damage) but keeping his feet as he heads toward Soumral's body!

OK, now the entire party can post their actions! Keep in mind my OOC from my last post and give me your intentions for this round and the next round or two if you can. @Devin The assassin DID make his Acrobatics check (I rolled it my post before the last one, before the clever Trip AoO slowed him down and I had to retcon a bit.) You can't charge, as he's already moved on the map. Basically, and this is what I had the assassin do, it's a 15' jump down. so if you jump down, make your Acrobatics roll and if you pass, taking only non-lethal damage, you don't fall prone but can continue moving. You use up a total of 20' movement dropping down into that adjacent space (5', + 15' drop), and if you keep your footing can continue onward for another 10' with the rest of your first move. You can then take a second move, make a ranged attack, cast a spell, or what have you. Keep in mind if you are on the roof and NOT on the low wall surrounding, it will cost you 25' to drop down to the ground, as you have to hop up and then jump down (no roll needed, it's a very low wall you can just jump over with no problem.)

Devin promptly follows the assassin over the side...

move action 1, jump down with acro and move 25'
Acrobatics, Take 10: 10 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 - 1 + 2 = 23
Can take 10 due to Caper and Jeer ability, 3 ranks +3 trained +3 dex +3 Buffoonery-1 ACP+2 heroism

Non-lethal damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

landing on his feet and taking up the chase...
Move action 2 - 25 ft

Seeing the last assassin trying to get at Soumral or at least getting away, Elliander again uses a spell to move. He steps through the arcane portal which gets him down on the ground, and there he circles around the enemy to get to the other side, helping to flank him.

Cast Dimension Hop 40ft (standard action), then circle around (south and out of AoO reach) as a move action.

Francis sees the action, but knows that he can't catch the nimble assassin. He turns to head down the stairs to try a follow whatever the party does....

Double move.

Nevitash jumps down!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

I jump as far out as I can, which I think is here based on my movement. That gets me into range to do a spell at him.

He lands and screams in divine rage at the assassin.

Cast Ear-Piercing Scream.

DC 14 Fortitude for Partial: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 3) = 16

If he fails, he is Dazed for 1 round and takes full. If he makes the save he takes half damage and is not dazed.

Sunday, the 20th day of Desnus, 4714 AR
Weather clear and hot and with little to no wind.
One hour after midday.

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Amenhep is weakened by the virulent poison and dares not leap to the ground in pursuit of the assassin, so the paladin can only call out encouragement to his allies, taking a moment to heal them with wave of positive energy that doesn't reach his enemy! Nevitash leaps down from the wall, and though the landing is hard from the great height he keeps his footing and moves toward his foe, casting a spell in the form of an ear-splitting scream that the assassin fairly shrugs off (8 damage). Francis heaves a sigh as he catches sight of the others leaping down after the fleeing assassin and turns back to hustle down the steps to the street below. Elliander uses his magic to twist the fabric of reality and appears on the ground a short distance away from the enemy, moving to cut him off as he closes in on the corpse of the elven girl. Devin leaps down as well, moving to catch up with the assassin just as the duskblade does the same. The dark eyes seen through the man's face covering betrays no emotion at all as he spins to his left (5' step), stabbing his rapier at Devin and the half-orc bard grunts as the blade pierces his side (9 damage), but fortunately it misses any important internal organs...

Amenhep's Channel Positive Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4) = 11 HP of healing on all allies (except Francis, who is beyond 30')

Nevitash's Fall Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 non-lethal

Assassin's Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 vs DC 14 = Success!

Assassin Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 vs Devin's AC = Hit!, Possible Crit!
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 = Crit Confirmed!
Rapier Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 2 = 9

Party is up!

Combat Map

Map/Guide of Tephu

Player Handout - Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh

Player Handout - Scrolls of Inquiry Excerpt

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Francis jogs along trying to catch up. Run is 3x base speed, right? Or is it 4x?

Nevitash charges in and tries to club the assassin with the back side of his greataxe.

Charge and attack to subdue.

+1 Greataxe+Charge-Nonlethal: 1d20 + 11 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 - 4 = 22

+1 Greataxe Damage: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

@Nev, don't forget flagbearer and inspire courage for +3/+3

"You pokey little bum-boy!" exclaims Devin as he steps back and returns the lunge with his longspear...

Free: Devin stops Performing, rounds left 19/22. Lingering performance 1/2.
5' step
Attack with longspear

To Hit: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 30
+5 bab +2 heroism +1 enhancement +2 inspire courage

Miss chance (01-20): 1d100 ⇒ 6

damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 10
+2 heroism +1 enhancement+2inspire courage

So I would have a 25 to hit for 20 damage. If the miss chance I also forgot doesn't stop it.

20% miss chance. Low misses: 1d100 ⇒ 53

Whew...didn't flub it up with the miss chance.

As the assassin steps away and still fights with lethal danger, Elliander steps after him, to take him down. He doesn’t care about doing any nonlethal damage to subdue the enemy, as he suspects the professional killer won’t say much anyway. Francis will have to heal him up or talk to the dead one, if necessary.

Sunday, the 20th day of Desnus, 4714 AR
Weather clear and hot and with little to no wind.
One hour after midday.

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Amenhep watches his friends converge on the assassin for a moment longer, then gathers his strength and heads the long way around to join them - awkwardly climbing over the low wall and starting across the unstable hay bale. Nevitash moves up to the assassin and smacks him with the blunt side of the greataxe (20 non-lethal damage), dropping him unconscious! Moments later, the adventurers are gathered around the fallen assassin and their slain comrade...

Combat is over! What are your plans? Feel free to RP them out if you'd like, or just give me an idea of what you want to do and I'll fill in the details. Most importantly, what are you doing with the mask? Is somebody wearing it? Or are you carrying it? @Francis, you can Run if movement is in a straight line and you can move 4x your normal movement, UNLESS you're wearing heavy armor, and then it's only 3x.

Detail Map

Map/Guide of Tephu

Player Handout - Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh

Player Handout - Scrolls of Inquiry Excerpt

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Francis picks up the mask and examines the body. "I hope this thing isn't cursed. I've carried it quite awhile...." He stows it in his pack for now.

"I haven't the power to raise the dead yet. And if the soul has moved on to the river, I don't think Pharasma would be happy with me for interrupting it. Does anyone know of the next of kin?"

He glances at the still living assassin. "Tie him up and strip him of everything. I'd even recommend blindfolding him before he wakes. And check him for magic tattoos or any aura anywhere on his body."

Nevitash makes the assassin go limp before Elliander can finish him off. The duskblade lowers his sword and looks around for more enemies. Satisfied, he then squats down beside Soumral to again check that she’s really dead. When he’s convinced, he helps search and tie up the unconscious assassin. Elliander bends up and checks the assassin’s mouth for any false teeth that might contain poison.
”We need to move both Soumral and this guy off the street the sooner the better, before too many questions. Francis; no I didn’t know her that well. If you don’t think there is anything you can do for her now, is there some temple or something we otherwise can leave her at?”

Did Nevitash knock the assassin out before or after I attacked with my spell? I.e., have a spent that spell slot/use or not?